Mushoku Tensei: The Mad Witch's Magical Redemption

As the sun set, Rudeus wrapped up our session for the day. We parted ways, each slipping into our night activities. For me, I joined Eris' family for dinner, followed by a luxurious bath, and finally getting dressed for bed by the attentive maids

Once I was settled and the room was quiet, I closed my eyes and fell asleep, hoping to reach out to the original Eris in my dream.

Wandering the endless dark void, I eventually found her. She was standing imposingly in the distance, crossing her arms and staring at me impatiently.

"What took you so long?" she demanded, tapping her foot repeatedly.

I sighed, knowing that talking to her would be a nightmare. "Well, I was just starting the plan from the ground up here, so it takes time."

"Why not just tell that little bastard to do it for you?" she shot back, her tone sharp.

It wasn't a terrible suggestion. Rudeus could help speed things up if I gave him certain tasks—but no. That kind of direct intervention would only raise questions, maybe even suspicions.

"That'd be too risky," I turned down her proposal. "If I push too hard or order him to do things that seem out of character for me, he might start noticing something's off."

"So you're just going to waste time and drag this out?" She scoffed, rolling her eyes. "I didn't think you'd be so... cautious."

Ah, I think she just realized where I'm getting at.

"Look, Eris," I called out, keeping my voice steady, "my plan isn't just about being efficient. It is about trying to act naturally without being suspicious."

Eris' frown deepened, but she didn't interrupt. Perhaps she understood me, or at least that's what I'm hoping she thinks.

"Anyway," I continued, "Rudeus was already teaching me Human language, which is essential to the plan. Eventually, I might able to start reading the books I need for the next step."

After explaining, Eris narrowed her eyes, seemingly considering my reasoning.

"Fine, but don't get too comfortable," she warned. "Remember, you're not me, and people are bound to notice if you get careless."

"I won't, but I'll need more time," I pleaded.

She gave a reluctant nod, her stance easing slightly. "Then don't keep me waiting."

With that, the void began to blur, and I felt myself slipping away from her presence, returning to consciousness.

As morning light crept into the room, I opened my eyes, and my mind was already thinking of strategies for the next steps of my confidential plan.

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After getting out of bed, the beast maids entered my room, immediately setting up a warm bath. They worked quickly, dressing me afterward—not in the usual frilly young lady dress, but in lighter attire, topped off with a leather breastplate.

Before I could ask any questions, Ghislaine stepped inside, holding a wooden sword.

She tossed it my way and turned on her heel. "Come with me, milady."

I caught the sword, an idea forming about what awaited me, and followed her out.

We moved through a few hallways before stopping outside Rudeus' room. Ghislaine reached for the doorknob, but I stepped forward and knocked first.

knock... knock...

"Who's there?" Rudeus called from inside.

I glanced at Ghislaine before answering. "It's us, Rudeus. Could you come out for a bit?"

There was a brief rustle from within, and the door opened. Rudeus stepped out, eyeing both me and Ghislaine with a mix of curiosity and mild surprise.

"What's going on?" he asked, looking down at the wooden sword in my hand.

Ghislaine pulled another wooden sword from her side, handing it to Rudeus. "Today is sword training, so get ready."

"Ah, I see," Rudeus replied, taking in the situation. "Let me get dressed first."

As he stepped back inside, I couldn't help but size up the wooden sword I was holding on, its weight and balance already stirring a rush of anticipation. Sword training, finally—something a little more hands-on.

"Okay, I'm back."

Rudeus returned quickly, dressed in the same light training gear as me. Ghislaine then led us to an open training space in the courtyard, signaling for us to stand across from one another before stepping into the center.

"Alright," she began, her gaze sharp and focused. "Today, you'll be learning the techniques of the Sword God Style through combat."

The Sword God Style—one of the renowned types of swordsmanship in this world, known for its intense focus on speed and power. Ghislaine was a highly skilled practitioner of this sword style, which is why the Boreas family hired her as Eris' bodyguard and mentor.

"To start, I want you both to strike each other with those wooden swords," she explained, her tone solemn. "The first one to land a hit on their opponent wins a point."

Rudeus, holding his sword with both hands, shifted his stance and observed me cautiously. I mirrored him, feeling the thrill and excitement of the moment. The challenge was simple, but the tension between us was anything but ordinary.

"Now start!"

With the signal from Ghislaine, the duel began.

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As Rudeus and I squared off, I decided to hit him gently by swinging my sword with the right amount of strength. While expecting him to block it, I noticed that he flinched instead, so my blade stopped short in front of his face, barely grazing him.

"Eris, why did you stop?" Ghislaine asked, her voice carried an edge of disappointment.

Feeling a bit flustered, I averted my eyes. "Ah, well, he just flinched, so I stopped to offer him a chance to react."

"In a real fight, hesitation can cost you your life," she criticized, her expression hardened. "Do not stop unless your opponent surrenders or can no longer fight."

Her words hit me like a sharp blow, the weight of her objection sinking in. Stopping an attack, even out of consideration, was rather a dangerous weakness. I glanced back at Rudeus, who was still recovering from his flinch, his hands tightening around the hilt.

"And you, Rudeus," she continued, her sharp gaze shifting to him. "Why did you flinch?"

Rudeus straightened up, his cheeks reddening slightly. "I—I wasn't expecting her to come at me swinging that quickly, so I got scared a little."

"Fearing your opponent is just as fatal as hesitation," Ghislaine retorted harshly. "You have to be ready for anything, even if someone is about to strike you."

He nodded, his embarrassment apparent, but his will to fight seemed heightened. Afterward, Ghislaine turned her attention back to me.

"Eris, don't hold back this time," she advised, her tone encouraging. "Strike him properly."

"Yes," I complied, understanding the importance of going all out.

Ghislaine turned her gaze to the other side, shouting, "Rudeus, brace yourself, and block Eris' attacks without flinching."

"U-understood," he stammered, readying his stance.

Seeing him bracing himself, I tightened my grip on the sword and adjusted my footing. While I wanted to go easy on Rudeus, I didn't want to disappoint Ghislaine by holding back. 

How do I do this? Hmm...Ah, how about if I aim for his non-vital area? That way, I could go all out while minimizing Rudeus' injuries.

"Alright, go again," Ghislaine signaled.

I stepped forward, my sword slicing through the air with measured force. My first target was his forearm—just enough to sting him without breaking his bones. However, the moment my blade approached him, Rudeus flinched again, his sword barely moving to block.

"Oh no, Rudeus, block!"

Whack!

Unfortunately, the wooden blade landed against his forearm with a loud whack.

"Gwah!" Rudeus cried out, dropping his sword and clutching his arm in discomfort.

Alarmed, I rushed to his side. "Are you okay, Rudeus? Did I hit you too hard?"

"I—I'm fine," he reassured, even though he winced as he cradled his arm. "It wasn't that bad. I can recover with healing magic."

Muttering something under his breath, he held his free hand over the injury. Suddenly, bright green particles began to gather around his forearm, and the discomfort on his face softened as the magic took effect.

So this is healing magic. Watching the glow fade as the injury healed itself, I couldn't help but feel intrigued. If I could learn this kind of magic, I could treat severe wounds too, maybe even my own if I ever got hurt.

Before I could reflect further, Ghislaine's presence broke through my thoughts. "Rudeus, what did say about flinching? You made the young lady worry because of it."

"I—I'm sorry," Rudeus apologized, lowering his head. "I couldn't help myself from flinching."

Feeling bad for him, I look at our instructor with disappointment. "That's enough, Ghislaine. It was my fault for not controlling my strength to compensate for his weakness."

Ghislaine raised a brow, clearly taken aback by my statement, though she didn't immediately reply. The courtyard fell silent, the tension between us hanging in the air.

"Is that so..." she mumbled, her cat ears drooping slightly. "My apologies, Milady. But Rudeus needs to overcome his fear. If he doesn't, it will only cause more worry for you."

Understanding her reasoning, I nodded. "That's true, but we need to approach this with more care if we want to help him improve."

"I see..." Ghislaine acknowledged, her tail wagging slowly. "If the young lady says so, I would respect her judgment."

With that, our instructor dismissed us for a short break, her sharp gaze remaining on Rudeus as if silently urging him to improve. I sighed, twirling the wooden sword while wondering how to approach the next round without overwhelming him.